By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
ALLEGED data-fudging at Dandenong Hospital’s emergency department is hiding short-staffing and a lack of beds, says the Victorian Emergency Physician Association.
According to the Herald Sun, 60 emergency doctors and nurses from the hospital signed a document claiming figures were being fabricated to make it appear untreated patients were being discharged or admitted within four hours.
In response to the document, Monash Health and the Department of Health jointly launched an independent audit by Ernst and Young into emergency patient records at the hospital.
VEPA vice-president George Douros said members had been concerned “for some time” about the combined impact of four-hour rule federal bonus money and “severe” health budget cuts.
Under this rule, the state’s hospitals must discharge or admit 90 per cent of emergency patients within four hours to receive a bonus $12 million.
“Hospitals must not repeat the mistakes of the failed British four-hour rule, they must not game the numbers at the patient’s expense.
“It doesn’t surprise me that data is being falsified. It’s no surprise that cash-strapped hospitals want that (bonus) money.
“When $615 million has been cut from state hospitals’ budgets, you can expect this sort of behaviour to occur.”
He said emergency staff numbers had been cut by 25 per cent and cheaper trainee staff were replacing better-trained staff in Victorian hospitals to cope with the budget cuts.
“If data manipulation is occurring, it hides the problem that patients are there too long.
“It also leads to confused information if the patient is shown on the computer to be in the wards but they are actually still in the emergency department.
“Confusion can arise for example, over who’s giving out the medication and has it already been given out.”
Dr Douros said doctors and nurses who spoke up should not be punished for raising their concerns.
Monash Health emergency medicine director George Braitberg said the allegations were taken “extremely seriously”.
“Monash Health strongly believes in the transparent and accurate recording of information, and vigorously investigates any claim to the contrary.
“We appreciate the concerns raised by our staff and take this matter very seriously and we will continue to support our staff whilst investigating the allegations raised.”
